For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. Words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number. Words not defined shall be given their common and ordinary meaning.
A. BASIC CABLE SERVICE. Any service tier, which includes the retransmission of local television broadcast signals.
B. CABLE OPERATOR.
Any person or group of persons who:
a. Provides cable service over a cable system and directly or through one or more affiliates owns a significant interest in such cable system; or
b. Otherwise controls or is responsible for, through any arrangement, the management and operation of such cable system.
C. CABLE SERVICE.
1. The one-way transmission to subscribers of:
a. Video programming; or
b. Other programming service; and
2. Subscriber interaction, if any, which is required for the selection or use of such video programming or other programming service and includes interactive services, enhanced services, information services, high speed data service, cable modem service, internet access and internet service (such as that of an Internet service provider) (where video programming means programming provided by, or generally considered comparable to programming provided by, a television broadcast station), to the extent that federal and state law allows the city to regulate such access and/or service.
D. CABLE SYSTEM or SYSTEM. a facility, consisting of a set of closed transmission paths and associated signal generation, reception, and control equipment that is designed to provide cable services which is provided to multiple subscribers within a community, but such term does not include:
1. A facility that serves only to retransmit television signals of one or more television broadcast stations;
2. A facility that serves subscribers without using any public rights-of-way;
3. A facility of a common carrier which is subject, in whole or in part, to the provisions of Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, except that such facility shall be considered a cable system (other than for the purposes of 47 USC 541) to the extent such facility is used in the transmission of video programming directly to subscribers; unless the extent of such use is solely to provide interactive on-demand services;
4. An open video system that complies with 47 USC 573; or
5. Any facilities of any electric utility used solely for operating its electric utility system.
E. CHANNEL or CABLE CHANNEL. A portion of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum which is used in a cable system and which is capable of delivering a television channel as defined by the Federal Communications Commission.
F. COUNCIL. The City Council of the city of Pinole.
G. FRANCHISE. An initial authorization, or renewal thereof, issued by the Council, whether such authorization is designated as a franchise, permit, license, resolution, contract, certificate, agreement, or otherwise, which authorizes the construction or operation of a cable system. Any such authorization, in whatever form granted, shall not supersede the requirement to obtain any other license or permit required for the privilege of transacting business within the city as required by the other chapters and laws of the city.
H. FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. A franchise grant chapter or a contractual agreement, containing the specific provisions of the franchise granted, including references, specifications, requirements and other related matters.
I. FRANCHISE FEE. Any fee or assessment of any kind imposed by the city on a grantee as compensation for the grantee's use of the public rights-of-way for the provision of cable service. The term “franchise fee” does not include:
1. Any tax, fee or assessment of general applicability (including any such tax, fee, or assessment imposed on both utilities and cable operators or their services, but not including a tax, fee or assessment which is unduly discriminatory against cable operators or cable subscribers);
2. Capital costs which are required by the franchise to be incurred by grantee for public, educational, or governmental access facilities;
3. Requirements or charges incidental to the awarding or enforcing of the franchise, including payments for bonds, security funds, letters of credit, insurance, indemnification, penalties, or liquidated damages; or
4. Any fee imposed under Title 17, United States Code.
J. GRANTEE. Any “person” receiving a franchise pursuant to this chapter and under the granting franchise chapter or agreement, and its lawful successor, transferee or assignee.
K. GRANTOR or CITY. The city of Pinole as represented by the Council or any delegate, acting within the lawful scope of its jurisdiction.
L. GROSS ANNUAL CABLE SERVICE REVENUES. The annual gross revenues received by a grantee from the operations of the cable system within the city to provide cable service utilizing the public rights-of-way for which a franchise is required, excluding refundable deposits, rebates or credits, and any sales, excise or other taxes or charges imposed externally to the franchise, and collected for direct pass-through to local, state or federal government.
M. INSTALLATION. The connection of the system to subscribers' terminals, and the provision of service.
N. PERSON. An individual, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, corporation or governmental entity.
O. PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL OR GOVERNMENT ACCESS FACILITIES or PEG ACCESS FACILITIES. The total of the following:
1. Channel capacity designated for noncommercial public, educational, or government use; and
2. Facilities and equipment for the use of such channel capacity.
P. SECTION. Any section, subsection or provision of this chapter.
Q. SERVICE AREA or FRANCHISE AREA. the entire geographic area within the municipal boundaries of the city as it is now constituted or may in the future be constituted, unless otherwise specified in the franchise. “Service tier. a category of cable service or other services provided by a cable operator and for which a separate rate is charged.
R. STATE. The state of California.
S. STREET or PUBLIC WAY or PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY. Each of the following which have been dedicated to the public or are hereafter dedicated to the public and maintained under public authority or by others and located within the service area: streets, roadways, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, sidewalks, easements, rights-of-way and similar public property.
T. SUBSCRIBER or CUSTOMER or CONSUMER. Any person who or which elects to subscribe to, for any purpose, cable service provided by the grantee by means of or in connection with the cable system, and who pays the charges therefor. (Ord. 02-101 § 5, 2002)